Refrigeration system



June 17, 19241 1,497,807

B. H. STEPHENS REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Filed Nov. 17 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .lune 17, l924.

unirse srifrfrs BURETT H. STEPHENS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

nnrnrennnrrou SYSTEM.

Application filed November 17, 1921. Serial No. 515,747.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, BURETT H. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot Illinois, have invented certain new and use'lul Improvements in Refrigeration Systems, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to improvements in systems oi refrigeration, andinore particularly to the construction ol a retrigerating device for cooling air, for instance, in cold storage rooms.

The object olI the invention is to provide a new and novel construction for refrigerating devices. wherein the cooling process involves the spraying ot a suitable cooling liquid into a chamber thru which the air to be cooled is circulated. A further object of the invention is the application ot certain irnproved natures calculated to produce ymore ellicient cooling or refrigeration and to overcome the ditliculties experienced in present systems ot this general character.

The 'tentures embodying theinvention are set `torth in their preferred forni in the aeconuianying drawings, wherein l Figur(l l. is a perspective view of a battery oi rel imei-ating units. one unit being shown with parts broken away to show the complete structure.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the baille member mounted in the casing,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the baille ring,

Figure l is a pcrsi'iective view of the splash pan. and

Figure 5 is a detail view ol a drain pipe, showing` the peritorations therein.

ln illustrating the invention l prefer to show what may be termed battery of re- Vlrigeiatinp.' units preferably arranged along one oil a storatn room and occupying substantially the entire vertical space troni the floor to the ceiling. altho. as `will herein- :titer he pointed cul, the entire refrigerating appara tus is designed to be installed in storage rooms of usual heiggjht without additional head room ttor accommodating the apparatus.

ln describing` the invention, a single unit willbe referred to in detail, it being undera unit constitutes a complete d, d vending on the size of 14evier. the nunxber ot units the room to becooled and the volume or' air to be treated.

ln general, the refriger'ating unit comprises a vertically arranged 'cylindric hous- .ing` or casing A open at its upper 'and .jlo'wer ends, with sulicient room -between the ends and the floor and ceiling of the room to lpermit a free circulation'of rair thru the casing. Surrounding` the casing is a wall iB, preferably made up of flat vertical wal-l sections 'forming a square or vrectangular enclosure for the casing and providing a `vertical passageway therebetween. As .clearly shown in Fig. Il, wherein the'hattery of refrigerating units are shown, the outer surrounding-walls Bconsist of parallel front and -re'ar llwal'ls proportionate ,extending thruout the length and end walls extending thruout the width vof theunitS. These outer walls B are vprei'erably constructed of suitable insulating composition extending 'upwardly from the floor leveljto a point short oit the upper extremity ofthe refrigerating unit or units. vThe cylindrio casingl A as well as the outer wall B is supported upon or suspended from a skeleton trame-work consisting of uprights 1 'and'laterals 2, preferably consisting of pipesections and suitable connections at the intersections ot the uprights and laterals.

o Referring tothe casing A,ltlie samelcomprises an upper casing section 3 and a lower section 4, the upper section vbeing somewhat greater in height and terminating 'at its lower end at a point substantiallfmidway the heiglit oi the complete rcfrig'erating unit or apparatus. Immediately below the upper end of the upper section 3 is provided an enlarged portion Saconsisting of two conical sections joined together at their bases 'and tapering in opposite directions. `The lower section 4 is a continuation of the' upper seotion, altho separated therefrom by an annular opening formed between thelower end ott the upper section and upwardly and outiwardly flaring end portion la terminating above the lower edge of the upper s'ectionB'.y rlhe division of the casing into two sections provides an annular opening 'between the interior of the casing A and thepsurrounding space orairv passage, and serves a purpose hereinafter to be pointed out. In order, however, that the annular opening between the adjacent ends of the easing sections v-3 and l may be controlled vas to size or even completely closed, an annular sleeve' or band surrounds the lower end of the upper section 3,eand is adapted to be adjusted vertically by means of suitable adjusting means such as vertical slots 5a formed in the sleeve 5 and bolts 6 anchored in the casing 3 and extending thru the slots 5, saidbolts being provided with wing nuts to permit the adjustment to be accomplished by hand. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the sleeve 5 may be lowered until its edge engages the base of the flared portion 4a of the lower section Ll, therebyy completely closing Vthe annular opening to the interior of the casing.

As before indicated, the lower end of the casing A terminates a considerable distance abovethe floor level, and there is located within the lower portion of the lower section` 1 and immediately beneath the same the parts of the apparatus utilized for condensing and collecting the cooling liquid which is introduced into the casing at its upper end thiii a pipe line 7 terminating in a downwardly directed nozzle 8 located concentrically with respect to the interior of the casing A and just below the opening at the upper end'thereof. Alt-ho any suiti able type of nozzle may be employed for 'lll introducing the cooling liquid into theicasing, the use of a nozzle which discharges the liquid laterally in all directions and in the form of a iine spray, is preferred.

Referring now to the condensing and collecting devices just mentioned, the same will be described follows: Suspended from a spider 9 mounted within the interior of the lower casing `section i and above the lower end thereof, is a baffle member 10 consisting of a'plurality of gable-like sections 10EL radiating from acentral point located in the vertical airisV of the casing. The several gable-like sections intersect each other to form downwardly and outwardly inclined troughs, whereas the outer vertical edges of each section form inverted V-shaped openings communicating with the open space immediately below. The diameter of the baille member is less than the internal diameter of the casing section 4l, so that an annular passage is formed between the periphery of the Y bailleA member and the inner surface of the metal structure, and, as before suggested, is

-suspended from the spider 9 and thru the section l is an annular battle plate or skirt 13 terminating a short distance below the lower end of the casing section l and eX- tending over and enclosing the openings 12 or what may be termed the perforated section of the casing section 1. The provision of this annular baffle or skirt 13 provides a passageway around the exterior of the casing section l which communicates with the interior of the casing thru the openings 12, this passageway opening downwardly so that the air escaping thru said opening into said passage is likewise directly in a downward direction.

Extending circumferentially"around the lower edge ofthe casing section 4 and se` curedV to the inner surface thereof is a baffle ring 14 consisting of a plurality of relatively narrow plates or a strip bent in zigzag fashion so as to form alternate inverted and upright if-shaped gables conforming generally in arrangement to the gable sections 109- of the bafiie member immediately above. The downwardly projecting poitions are further shaped so as to provide outwardly and downwardly inclined troughs. |The baffle ring 14 is located immediately below the annular open s ace surrounding the baflle member 10, an its function will presently be pointed out in detail.

ln'iinediately below the casing section 4 and the lowei'niost baille member 14: is a receptacle 15 which may be better termed a splash pan. This splash pan consists vof an annular bottom wall 16 and upwardly and Jintwardly iiaring side walls 17 extending above theI lower edge of the skirt 18 and outside of the same, its upper marginal portion being preferably bent inwardly, as at 18, so as to abut against the outside of said skirt '12.. ln the bottom wall 16 of the splash pan is an opening of quite large diameter and substantially equal to the diameter of the uppermost baille member 1,0. said opening being surrounded byan upright annular flange lf) forming the inner wall of an annular tro gli substantially Vconcentric with and in rental. alignment with the zigzag baille ring immediately above. Communicating withL the splash pan 15, and. as a matter of fact, with the annular trough formed at the bottoni thereof, is a series of drain pipes 20 arranged in spaced relation around said trough. rlhese pipes 2O extend downwardly int an open trough 21 supported just above the floor level on short transverse beams 22, which also serve a support for the skeleton frame on which the entire apparatus is mounted or suspended.

rhe pipes 2O are preferably perforated by making triangular shaped cuts in the pipe and theirbendiiigthepointed portions of metal inwardly, as is clearly shown in detail inFigure 5, these cuts being formed so that the inwar'dly bent portions extend upwardly and inwardly into the interior of the pipe with the result that the liquid flowing downwardly thru the pipes will'escape to the outside surface and continue downwardly in contact therewith. In other words, a part of the liquid will be conducted thru the pipe and a portion conducted on the outer surface of the pipe, the purpose of this treatment, as will hereinafter be pointed out, being to provide additional cooling surface, and thence added refrigeration.

As hereinbefore explained, Figure 1 illustrates a typical installation and with the following explanation it will be seen that the entire apparatus may be readily installed and easily assembled without making elaborate preparations or especially constructed space to receive a battery of the refrigeratingl units. The skeleton framemay be readil y assembled and supported upon the transverse beams 22 which rest upon the floor of the storage room, the casing sections 8 and 4 being suspended within the skeleton frame and the sections of the wall B mounted upon or suspended on the outside of the frame. vAs clearly shown in Figure 1, 'the suspension of the parts upon the skeleton frame is accomplished by the use of straps 23 which are riveted to the several parts and are bent at their free ends in the -form of hooks which engage the laterals 2 of the skeleton frame. The use of these straps 23 applies to both sections of the casing 3 and 4 a's well'as the splash pan 15. A similar method of mounting the walls B may also be employed, the result l'ieiug that the entire apparatus is portable and readily installed in any storage room or area without necessitatiing,` any alteration' other than that necessary to pipe the cooling liquid along the ceiling to the several refrigerating units.

The continuous cooling process or refrigeration of the air depends upon the application of a well known principle; namely, that the colder air sinks to the lowest level and therefore the warmer air of the room rises and enters the upper end of the refrigerating unit. where it immediately comes in contact with the cooling liquid, and lits temperature lowered. Hence it will sink to the lower end of the unit and ultimately be discharged into the room at a low level. Thus a cycle of alternate cooling and heating processes are set up, with the result that a constant circulation is promoted thru the apparatus and the space to be cooled. So in this instance, the warmer air rising to the ceiling enters the refrigerating unit thru the opening at the upper end of the casing 3 and immediately comes in contact with the cooling liquid, which is preferably brine cooled to a temperature somewhat below normal temperature of the room and which is sprayed into the casing thru the nozzle 8. As before suggested, the nozzle produces a very fine enlarged portion 3a is condensed and flows down the' inner surface of the casing in liquid form, thereby maintaining the walls ofthe casing at a very low temperature. rfhe remaining portion of the spray discharged downwardly into the casing intermingles with the air and absorbs they heat therefrom. Thus the cooling process is of a two-fold nature; namely, by the interminglingfof the spray in the air, and by direct contact with the liquid-coated surface of the casing. As the air travels downwardlv to the lower end of the casing, a portion oy the brine or the spray becomes condensed, assuming the form of comparatively large globules of liquid which become readily separated from the air as it passes rinwardly beneath the gable sections of the baffle member f 10 or outwardly thru the openings 12 in the casing section Il.A A considerable portion, however, of the brine remains insuspeusion in the form of a line mist which is not so readily separated from the air. It is therefore the complete removal of the residual spray or moisture from the air that demands the use of the arrangement ofbaflies such asy 7 here shown and described. The air now comes in contact with the baftlemember 10 which serves to condense the spray and further alter the direction ofv the air so as to allow the condensed liquid to be freed, whereas the air travels in a lateral direction either inwardly thru the vertical il-shaped openings of the baffle member 10 or outwardly thru the openings 12, and thence downwardly again into the splash pan 15. It may be explained at this point that the provision of the openings 12 and the surrounding bafi'ie ork skirt 1 3 is to equalize the pressure at the lower end of the casing and to minimize the retarding effect of counter currents which would be set up dueto the restriction caused by the baiiie member 10, with the result thaty the air may pass freely in either lateral direction from the lower end of the casing. The ultimateoutlet for the air is the large opening in thebottom of the splash pan 15 from whence it is discharged downwardly and thence laterally toward a dis-` charge opening in the wall B, preferably having the form of a series of downwardly inclined louvres 24 located just above the floor level. .lhese louvres form a section of the outer wall B facing outwardly toward the room or space to be cooled. It is to be observed that the air in passing from they lower end of the casing and thru the large annular opening in the bottom wall of the splash pan 15 circulates thru and around the pipes 2O extending downwardly into the open tank or trough 21. ln this manner 1 preferred construction embodying the same,

I claim:

1. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a vertical open-ended casing through which the air to be cooled is circulated, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end of said casing, an annular baille member comprising a plurality of gable sections mounted in the lower end portion of saidcasing and having its periphery spaced from the inner surface thereof, an intermediate baille member circling the inner surface of the casing below the periphery of said annular baille member, and a receptacle at the lower end of said casing.

2. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a casing open at its end, and through which the air to be cooled is circulated, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end of said casing, an annular baille suspended within the lower end portion of said casing and having its periphery spaced fromithe surface thereof, an intermediate baille member circling the wall of said casing' below the annular baiile member, and comprising V-shaped baille sections directed inwardly, and a receptacle below the lower end of said casing.

3. In a refrigerating system, the combiH nation of a vertical casing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end of said casing, an annular baille suspended within the lower portion of said casing and spaced at its'periphery from the surface thereof, the casing being perforated adjacent said baffle member, an annular baille ring extending around the inner surface 0f said casing below said annular baille member and said perforated portion, and a receptacle enclosing the lower end of said casing including the perforated portion thereof.

4:. In a refrigerating system, they combi nation of a vertical casing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end thereof, a baille member mounted centrally within the lower portion of said Casin and comprising radially eX- tending gab e-like sections, a similarly formed baffle,y ring circling the surface of the casing below said baille member, and a splash pan mounted beneath said casing.

5. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a vertical casing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end thereof, a baffle member mounted in the lower portion of said casing comprising radially disposed gable-like sections and intermediate troughs, the periphery of said baille member being spaced from the wall of the casing, and perforations formed in said wall portion surround-s ing said baille member, and a splash pan;beneath said casing and provided with annular walls enclosing' the perforated lower end portion of vsaid casing, and an air dis charge` opening in its bottom wall surrounded by an upright flange forming with said side wall an annular trough, and a seriesA of drain pipes depending from said trough.

(l. In a rei'rigerating system, the combinaf tion of a vertical casing open at its ends, m-eans for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end thereof, a baille member mounted in the lower portion of said casing comprising radially disposed gable-like sections and intermediate troughs, a baille ring secured to the lower edge of said casing and comprising a plurality of V-shaped troughs d'1-- rected inwardly, a splash pan mounted beneath said casing provided with a flanged air opening in the center of the bottom wall thereof and forming an annular surrounding trough into which the liquid from said baille ring drains, and a drain pipe commimicating` with said splash pan.

7. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a Vertical casing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end thereof, a baille member mounted in the lower portion of said casing, a

`splash pan beneath said casing provided with an air discharge opening thru its bottom wall, a series of vertical drain pipes surrounding said opening, said pipes being perforated to permit the liquid to flow downwardly on the outer surface thereof.

dln a refrigerating unit, the combina.- tion of a Vertical casing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end thereof, a receptacle at the lower end of said casing, a plurality of drain pipes communicating with said receptable, said pipes being perforated to permit the liquid to flow on the outer surface thereof, and an open tank 'into which said drain rpipes empty.

9. In a refrigerating unit, the combination of a vertical casing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end thereof, a receptacle below said casing into which the liquid is collected, a plurality of drain pipes communicating with said receptacle and depending into a tank below said receptacle, said pipes being located in the path of the cooled air, and perforated thruout their length to permit the flow of the liquid down their outer surfaces.

10. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a vertical easing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid downwardly into said casing, a vertical wall surrounding said casingiand forming an air passage therebetween, and having a discharge opening in the lower portion thereof and an opening in said casing intermediate yits ends communicating with said passage.

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Y air delivered from the lower end ot said casing and circulated downwardly through said passage.

12. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a vertical casing, a wall surrounding said casing,rthereby forming inner and outer air passages discharging at their lowerends, means for spraying cooling liquid downwardly into the upper end of sain casing, means 'for promoting condensation ol the liquid at the lower end of said casing, means foin discharging the air from said casing, and an opening in said outer wall forming a common air discharge into the space to be cooled. Y

' 18. In a refrigerating system, the combination or" a vertical casing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid at the upper end ot said casing, a wall surrounding said casing and extendingsubstantially throughout the height thereof, said wall being spaced from said casing to form an exterior air passage for the circulation of air in contact with the exterior of said casing, means in said casing for promoting the condensation of the liquid, and a common discharge opening in Ysaid wall for the air discharged from the lower end ot said'casing and circulated through said outer passage. Y

14. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a vertical'casing open at its ends, In'eans for spraying cooling liquid into the upper end thereof, means for condensing the cooling liquid at its lower end, comprising a receptacle, a trough, and a plurality7 of drain pipes extending from said receptacle to said trough, and a vertical wall surrounding said casing, recepta cle, pipes, and trough and having a louvred opening in the lower portion thereo.

15. ln a refrigerating system, the combination of a vertical casing open at`its ends, a wall surrounding said cas-,ing and forming Van outer air passage therebetween, said casing having an annular' opening intermediate its ends communicating with said passage, means tor spraying a cooling liquid into said casing, means for promoting the condensation of the liquid adjacent the lower end of said housing, and a common discharge opening formed in the lower portion of Vsaid surrounding wall,

4V16. In a refrigerating system, the combination of a vertical casing open at its ends, ineens for spraying a cooling liquid in said Leef/,sor

casing, Va wall su rounding said casing and noviding an ont 'vertical air passage, said casing being div .d intermediate its ends into sections spaced apart '-rerticall; to form au annular opening communicating with he surrounding passage. and means l'or reguloting the size ot said opening.

17. lfna refrigerating system, the combination of a vertical casing open at its ends, means for spraying a cooling liquid into the upper end of said casing, a vertical wall enclosing said casing and forming an .ausili iary air passage, said casing being divided substantially midway its height into sections, spaced apart vertically to toi-m an an: nular opening' communicating with. the slurrounding passage, anc a sleeve mounted at the end of one oic said sections and adapted to be adjusted to open and close said open,- ing.

18. ln a retrigerating system, the combination of a vertical casing includinga plurality oi sections spaced apart at their ends, the lower oi" said sections having a ila-ring end portion extending outwardly and beyond the end oit the adjacent section, means tor spraying cooling liquid into the top of said casing, and'means at the bottom of said casing for promoting the condensation` of said liquid.

19. ln a retrigerating system, the combination ot a casing open at its end and erected in vvertical position, said casing consisting` oli' sections spaced apart at their adjacent ends to provide an annularopening, the lower of said sections having a flaring end portion enclosing the end ot the adjacent section. and means torregnlating the size of said opening. Y

20. ln a retrigerating system, the vcombination ot a vertical casing open at'its ends, means for spraying said liquid downwardlyv into said casing` a wall enclosing said casing and forming an outer air passage, an opening in the lower portion of said outer wall. and a partition plate extending from said casing above the lower end thereof, and intersecting said opening between its upper and lowe'r edges, thereby forming sepaw rate discharges for the air delivered from the casing and from the outer passage.

.21.' In a retrigerating system., the combination of a vertical casing, a wall surrounding said casing forming inner and outer passages, means vwithin said casing for spraying cooling liquid downwardly thereinV whereby a downward circulation of air is promoted through said casing, a verti- Vcally disposed discharge opening Jformed in the lower portion of said wall, louvres lmounted in said opening, and a horizontal partition wall. dividing said opening vertically and extending to said casing,.the upper portion of said opening'fornnng the iso discharge for said outer passage, and the lower portion forming the discharge for the air from said casing.

22. In a retrigerating system, the coinbination of a Vertical casing opcn at .its ends, a Wall substantially enclosingsaid casing and forming; al passage tlicrebetiiiirien, said casi ne' comprising upper and loivei` sections spaced z part vciticalliY Ytogniing an annular opening` coininuiiicating iif'itli said outer passage, means for spraying a coolingl liquid into said casing, ineans toi condensing the liquid adjacent the lower end of said casing, an opening' in the lower portion of said Wall, and a partition plate kabove the lower end of said casing; tor preventing the upward circulation of air through said outer passage. y

23. In a re'iifigerating unit, the combination ott a casing; adapted to ybe suspended above the Hoor of a space to be cooled, a traine structure consisting` of uprights and laterals erected upon said door, said casing being` provided with hooked members engaging said laterale of said frame, and Wall sections suspended from and applied to the cd'crior ot said traine, and substantially enclosing said casing.

9A. In `a rcfrigerating unit, the combination of a casing adapted to be erected .in Vertical position above the floor of the space to be cooled, and consisting of separate tubular sections, a traine structure consisting of uprights and lateral ineinbers resting upon said licor, said sections being provided with hooked supporting arms adapted to engage said traine whereby said sections hang therein, and outer Wall sections reinovably suspended troin said traine and enclosing the saine and said casino.

ln Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe niy naine this 111th dayof November, A. D.,

BURETT H. STEPHENS.y 

